It was a pleasure to be out there in Washington State to meet with producers and to see the impact of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

I would like to flag a few key issues and ask how we can make this program more effective.

I am also a cosponsor of Representative Pingree's Agriculture Resilience Act (H.R. 2803), which creates opportunities to directly enable agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Federal investment through TEFAP and other feeding programs... has the potential to act as a catalyst.

I just want to take a moment to emphasize just how important this is.

I first just want to reextend my invitation to you to visit my district this summer--it is beautiful in Washington State in the summer--to speak with stakeholders about priority forest restoration and wildfire mitigation projects.

I wanted to mention two more things. First is really short. I just wanted to thank you for finalizing the rule for the Origin of Livestock.

we need to get through the Senate. It would allow for more worker visas, which would help the dairy producers in my district, and across this country.

But farmers in my district still need help in order to access these loans and opportunities for first-time farmers who often don't have generational knowledge.

I co-chair the SEEC (Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition) Climate and Agriculture Task Force, along with my friend and colleague Representative Chellie Pingree.

Cascadia Produce is championing a new model of coordinated collaboration to act as an incubator.

What we need are commonsense adjustments to ensure that these programs are serving our producers and their land well.